Papier Mache means crushed Papier or pulped Papier or mashed Papier. It is composite of Papier pulp stiffened with adhesive. It is used for making various decorative products like puppets, boxes, and masks.
This art form is found all over world. In India, it is prevalent in Kashmir, where hand-painted boxes are made. Bowls lined metal, trays, étagères and decorative cases are also made here. It has become a luxury ornamental market.
In Europe, around 18thcentury gilded Papier came into use as replacement for plaster or carved wood in architecture. In Mexico cartoneria or papier Mache sculptures are popular traditional handicraft. In 19thCentury America, this was used to make Papier canoes or Papier boats. They were also used in making light weight domes for observatories.
Even today, papier Mache has wide use in many fields because of its lower cost and easy handling. We have incorporated the Kashmiri art of papier Mache to make vibrant necklaces and earrings. These jewelry pieces are hand-painted by master craftsmen to give it a unique lustre and vibrancy. Image Source : https://in.reuters.com/news/picture/papier-mache-industry-in-kashmir-idINRTXVJ3J
